peg / peg/ • n. 1. a short cylindrical piece of wood, metal, or plastic, typically tapered at one end, that is used for holding things together, hanging things on, or marking a position. ∎  such an object attached to a wall on which to hang garments. ∎  (also tent peg) such an object driven into the ground to hold one of the ropes or corners of a tent in position. ∎  such an object in the neck of a stringed musical instrument around which the strings are wound, and which are turned to adjust their tension and so tune the instrument. ∎  a bung for stoppering a cask. ∎ inf. a person's leg. ∎  a point or limit on a scale, esp. of exchange rates. 2. chiefly Indian a measure of liquor: have a peg of whiskey. 3. inf. a strong throw, esp. in baseball.• v. (pegged , peg·ging ) 1. [tr.] fix or make fast with a peg or pegs: drape individual plants with nets, pegging down the edges. ∎  [tr.] mark (the score) with pegs on a cribbage board. 2. [tr.] fix (a price, rate, or amount) at a particular level. ∎ inf. form a fixed opinion of; categorize: the officer probably has us pegged as anarchists. 3. inf. throw (a ball) hard and low, esp. in baseball: the catcher pegs the ball to the first baseman.PHRASES: a peg to hang a matter on something used as a pretext or occasion for the discussion or treatment of a wider subject.a square peg in a round hole a person in a situation unsuited to their abilities or character.take someone down a peg or two make someone realize that they are less talented or important than they think are.PHRASAL VERBS: peg away inf. continue working hard at or trying to achieve something, esp. over a long period.peg out1. inf., chiefly Brit. die. 2. score the winning point at cribbage. 3. Croquet hit the peg with the ball as the final stroke in a game.peg something out mark the boundaries of an area of land: I went out to peg out our assembly area.

peg pin or bolt of wood, etc. (cf. pegtop) XV; (dial.) tooth; (in stringed instruments) pin with which the tension of the strings is adjusted; step, degree XVI; (orig. Anglo-Ind.) measure of drink XIX. prob. of Du. or LG. origin (cf. MDu. pegge, Du. dial. peg plug, peg, LG. pigge peg; also MLG., MDu. pegel peg, pin, bolt).
Hence peg vb. fix with a peg XVI; mark with pegs; p. out, die (sl.) XIX.

peg a peg to hang a matter on something used as a pretext or occasion for the treatment of a wider subject.
take someone down a peg or two make someone realize that they are less talented or important than they think they are.

See also a square peg in a round hole.

PEG • abbr. polyethylene glycol.

peg (Ger. Wirbel; Fr. cheville; It. bischero). Movable wooden pin set in head of instr. of vn. family and used to adjust the tension of the str.